Why Choose Skydive Perris for Skydiving Near Los Angeles?
Updated
Skydive Perris is a strong choice if you want a large, safety-focused dropzone close to Los Angeles and Hollywood, with aircraft variety, an on-site wind tunnel, and a full-service restaurant and bar. It suits first-timers booking a tandem, licensed skydivers looking for turbine aircraft and events, and families or groups who want indoor flying or a place to watch and eat. The main reasons to pick it are location, safety culture, aircraft, and on-site facilities.
Location and reputation
Skydive Perris describes itself as the West Coast's largest and most trusted skydiving center and the closest to Hollywood. According to the site, A-list celebrities, VIPs, and influencers choose it, and more skydiving scenes are filmed there than anywhere else. If you are coming from the LA area, that positioning matters: you get a major, established dropzone rather than a small regional operation.
The center is also marking 50 years at Skydive Perris, which speaks to how long it has operated in the region.
Safety leadership
The site points to its General Manager, Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, a World Record holder and six-time skydiving World Champion with more than 30,000 jumps. It states the organization leads from a "zero tolerance culture of safety."
For a first-time jumper, this is the kind of signal to weigh: a named, highly experienced leader and an explicit safety stance. It does not replace your own review of instructor credentials or current procedures, but it tells you safety is presented as a core operating principle rather than a side note.
Aircraft
Skydive Perris says it uses "the industry's safest and most reliable aircraft," including the only rear-exit tailgate jump ships in California. All twin turbine planes are monitored and maintained by full-time aircraft mechanics.
Aircraft type affects your experience in practical ways:
- Turbine planes typically mean faster climbs to altitude and more consistent operations.
- Rear-exit tailgate aircraft change how you exit and can be part of the appeal for experienced jumpers.
- On-site mechanics suggest maintenance happens at the dropzone rather than being outsourced.
The site also notes the DC-9 tandem skydive — described as the only DC-9 airliner jet in the world rated for skydiving — with a minimum age of 18 and a price of $999.
On-site wind tunnel
Skydive Perris was among the first dropzones to add an indoor skydiving simulator, and the site says it remains one of the world's only dropzones with an on-site wind tunnel. Ages 3+ are welcome.
This matters if you want to:
- Try bodyflight before committing to a full jump
- Add indoor flying to a group or family visit
- Practice or warm up while at the same location
The Indoor Skydiving Bronze Package includes two one-minute flights in the on-site wind tunnel.
Restaurant, bar, and events
The on-site Bombshelter restaurant and bar is open all day, every day, for indoor and poolside dining, with a full calendar of live music and events. That makes the dropzone usable as a full outing: jumpers can fly, and friends or family can watch, eat, and stay for the event schedule.
The site also references hosting events and USPA Nationals, which indicates the facility operates at a competitive level, not just for tourist tandems.
Jump options and prices
| Experience | Altitude / format | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tandem Skydive | 14,000 feet MSL | 60 seconds freefall at 120 mph, 5–10 minute parachute ride; available all week | From $199 |
| High Altitude Tandem | 18,000 feet MSL | Supplemental oxygen on ascent, 90 seconds freefall | $399 |
| DC-9 Tandem Skydive | DC-9 airliner jet | Rare; minimum age 18; tail-door exit | $999 |
| Indoor Skydiving Bronze | Wind tunnel | Two one-minute flights | Not listed in the provided material |
The site notes that the Early Bird "beats the heat…and gets the Best Price," so if price and comfort matter, ask about earlier time slots when you check availability.
Who should choose Skydive Perris
- First-time tandem jumpers near LA who want a large, established center with a strong safety message.
- Licensed skydivers interested in turbine aircraft, tailgate exits, and events like USPA Nationals.
- Families and groups who want indoor skydiving (ages 3+) plus a restaurant and bar on site.
- Anyone seeking a rare jump — the DC-9 tandem is presented as unique, though it costs $999 and requires age 18+.
If your priority is the lowest possible price or the smallest, quietest dropzone, this may not be the fit. If your priority is scale, safety emphasis, aircraft variety, and on-site amenities near Los Angeles, Skydive Perris is built around exactly that.
To move forward, check availability for your date and ask which aircraft and jump type are running that day, since the DC-9 and high-altitude options are described as rare or limited.